AFLW: Randall receives nod

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 3: Chelsea Randall of the Crows celebrates a goal during the 2018 AFLW Round 01 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Brisbane Lions at Norwood Oval on February 3, 2018 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by AFL Media)

Three players making their NAB AFL Women's competition debuts are inclusions in the inaugural AFL.com.au AFLW team of the week.Collingwood's Chloe Molloy, Melbourne's Erin Hoare and Greater Western Sydney’s Courtney Gum were impressive in their first games at the top level.

The Brisbane Lions lead the way with seven players selected, while Melbourne (five) is also well represented.

At the other end of the scale, Adelaide and Collingwood have just one player each, with Fremantle the only team not to have a representative.

The team is selected to mirror the All-Australian format: five defenders, six midfielders (including a ruck), five forwards and five interchange players.

Players are picked in general categories, rather than in traditional positions. The 16-a-side set-up often means teams play with different configurations, making set-positon selections (e.g., wings and flanks) challenging.

Kaslar continued her enthralling rivalry with Adelaide's Sarah Perkins, keeping the spearhead goalless. Her teammate Stanton provided great run off half-back, finishing with 21 touches and three tackles.

Davey (16 touches) and Molloy (20) were their teams' respective architects out of defence, the ball occasionally pin-balling between the two in their Friday night clash.

Downie made a dominant return to football after managing just two matches last year due to a torn hamstring, continually cutting off the Giants' forward-50 entries.

Brennan hit the ground running in her long-awaited AFLW return, kicking three goals from her 12 disposals.

A much leaner Cranston was the match-winner for Melbourne, kicking two of her three goals in the last quarter, including the final goal in the six-point win. At the other end of the field, a lively McWilliams kicked three from her six shots, moving well up the ground.

Frederick-Traub relished the freedom of being the one big key forward after the off-season departure of Tayla Harris, pulling in 10 marks, seven of which were contested. Only her poor kicking (0.3) let her down. Teammate Wuetschner was as irrepressible as always, finishing with two goals.

Anderson had the best game of her short career through the midfield, picking up 15 touches and laying 12 tackles, much higher than her 2017 average of seven and three respectively.

Gum showed exactly why the Giants took a punt on a 35-year-old, the inside midfielder finishing with 17 disposals and four clearances in an impressive debut.

Lutkins was a steadying presence in defence for the Lions, her intercept marking and ability to set up play being highlights.Carlton recruit Harris was a dominant force up forward, pulling in several stunning contested marks and kicking a goal in an extremely low-scoring affair.

Melbourne lost Karen Paxman early to a back injury, but O'Dea stepped seamlessly into her midfield spot after quarter-time, amassing 17 touches and five inside-50s.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs